Selectively sparing of the supraclavicular area during intensity-modulated radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A double-center observation study

Abstract

Background and purpose

This study was aimed at evaluating the feasibility of sparing the supraclavicular area, namely levels IVb and Vc, during intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with N1-2 disease[except N1 disease with purely restropharyngeal lymph nodes(RPN) involvement], and provide a basis for the revision of International Guideline for the delineation of the clinical target volume (CTV).

Patients and materials

Patients with NPC (stage T_anyN_1-2M₀) diagnosed pathologically in Fujian Cancer Hospital (Center1, Only Lin SJ‘s attending group) from January 2014 to March 2018 and Jiangxi Cancer Hospital(Center2) from January 2014 to December 2015 were included. According to our principle, the supraclavicular area levels (IVb and Vc) were excluded from the CTVnd. Survival outcomes focused on regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS) and recurrence rates of levels IVb and Vc were analyzed. Results: A total of 672 eligible patients were recruited (Center1, n=362; Center2, n=310). There was no significant difference in 5-year RRFS (97.33% vs. 97.24%, p=0.980), overall survival (OS) (89.14% vs. 88.56%, p=0.327), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) (94.90% vs. 95.30%, p=0.593) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) (89.38% vs. 86.60%, p=0.130) between Center1 and Center2. Twenty patients developed regional failure (median: 36 months), among them, only one case (0.15%) was recorded as levels IVb and Vc recurrence.

Conclusion

Omitting the supraclavicular area (levels IVb and Vc) during IMRT should be safe and feasible for N1-2 disease (except N1 disease with purely RPN involvement). Well-designed multicenter prospective trials should be conducted to confirm our findings.